Langley Rivermen wrapped up 2024 with a public skate for fans after their final home game of the year, then followed it up by going on the road for their very last outing, recording a 3-2 loss at home to Victoria, and a 4-3 win against Chilliwack.
Here's how the games went:
Following a two-week hiatus for the Christmas break, Rivermen and Victoria Grizzlies met for the second time this season on Saturday afternoon, Dec 28.
Langley got the scoring going when Jackson Krill converted his own rebound in front for his fifth goal of the season with 8:24 gone in the first period on the power play.
2:24 later, Julian Cull tied the game for Victoria on a shot from the slot, with 9:12 to go in the first period, and that’s where it would stand until the second period.
Langley had a pair of power play opportunities midway through the second, but the Grizzlies would kill it off, and would convert on a 5 on 3 opportunity tap in to make it 2-1 Victoria with 4:56 to go in the middle frame.
Ethan Merner scored his 12th of the season on a power play with 8:30 gone in the third period, and Langley would try to get themselves into the lead, but it was the Grizzlies who scored the winning goal with 1:38 to go.
Following the game, young fans put their skates on for some on-ice encounters with their favourite players, a Rivermen tradition.
Sunday, Dec. 29, Rivermen made a trip out to the Chilliwack Coliseum for the third time this season.
Chilliwack took the lead at 2:18 into the game, Dakota MacIntosh would fire a puck into the Rivermen net to give the Chiefs a 1-0 lead.
Two quick goals less than two minutes apart by the Rivermen made it 2-1, with Jackson Krill scoring his sixth of the season shorthanded on a feed from Zachary Benayon, then Henry Butte got his second of the season on a feed from Dalton MacGillivray behind the Chilliwack net.
A minute and a half later, the Chiefs tied it up.
Early in the second period, Benayon would score his second of the season to make it 3-2 for Rivermen, followed by Ryan Schelling's 20th goal of the season.
Moments after the 4-2 Langley goal, Chilliwack cut the lead to 4-3 on a one timer stemming from a power play opportunity, but that was as close they came.
Heading into 2025, Rivermen stand seventh in the 10-team BCHL Coastal Conference with a record of 14 wins and 17 losses this season, including four overtime losses and one shootout loss.
Langley is at home for a pair next weekend, hosting the Chiefs on Friday, and Saturday the Surrey Eagles pay a visit.
Friday is the annual Ronin Sharma night, with all 50/50 proceeds going towards the Sharma Foundation.
